Tour de Brooklyn

Go Brooklyn! As a New Yorker, I have a natural affinity for Brooklyn even though I was mostly raised in Queens. Queens is very large and every neighborhood is very different so it does have it's charms but Brooklyn is ... well, Brooklyn. Home to the Cyclone and Coney Island. The Brooklyn Dodgers and U Bet Syrup. Junior's Cheesecake and Ebingers Blackout Cake. Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery.

Last year we rode in the 2nd annual Tour de Brooklyn and it was good. Not, however, as good as this year. In 2006 we were in the early stages of becoming Team Squid. Now we are a fully formed cycling squad and have our routines down pat. Schmeared with sunblock and donning sunglasses (and regular glasses that darken in the sun) we loaded the bikes. We now allways ride with a small first aid kit (our umbrella against minor wounds) and my knitting (the umbrella against major wounds). Four out of seven water bottles hold Accelerade on long rides (the other three hold water), and we have muffins, banana bread and granola bars in a panier (saddle bag). The only thing we lacked this time was toilet paper. Note to self -- toss a partial roll into the panier.

How does a properly equipped team of Squid get to the 3rd annual Tour de Brooklyn? They ride, of course! Thus upping the total mileage for the day to ... 35 miles.
Riding newly minted bike paths in Manhattan, we headed over the Brooklyn Bridge to Grand Army Plaza where we signed in and waited to ride. The wait was pleasant as we chatted with other bikers and compared bikes and sob stories about the 5 Boro Bike Tour. In the warm, balmy air we got rolling around 9:30 or so and after 10 miles, rolled into the rest stop around 10:30. We stopped once for about 10 minutes while the police cleared the streets ahead of us. No walking of the bikes, just solid riding. Sweet! After a brief rest and some bananas and PB and J, we rolled again and were in the saddle pretty consistently until we returned to Prospect Park.

Since we were rolling for almost the entire time, there is a paucity of photographs. What there is can be found here.

All in all, a very good day.